100 years ago
February 16, 1912
The Parent-Teacher Club of the Summer Home district was formed at the last meeting held on the 2nd of February. Not very many joined but those who did were very enthusiastic on the subjects discussed and it is hoped good work will be done. It was decided to plant trees on St. Valentine’s Day, when the usual Valentine entertainment will be given at the school and many visitors are expected to be present. It will take time, of course, to get the school grounds in good order, but it is hoped they will improve gradually. In order to raise money for this purpose, a spelling bee is to be held at the school house on the 24th. It is proposed to have one bee for the children and one for the adults. Prizes will be offered to the successful contestants. There is to be a good graphophone, a few recitations, etc. Admission will be 15 cents for adults and 10 cents for children.



70 years ago
February 19, 1942
Registration of men between the ages of 20 and 44 for selective service totaled 1,726 in the area under the jurisdiction of Local Draft Board 36, according to Mrs. Phyllis Youngblood, board clerk. Signups at the five registration centers comprising the district were as follows: Manteca 477, Tracy 743, Escalon 225, Ripon 168, and French Camp 113.

In construction at the southeast corner of Yosemite and Vine Street since November 12, the fine new super-service station of the Shell Oil Company officially opened for business yesterday. The station, the most modern to be seen anywhere, was built on the site formerly occupied by the station independently operated for several years by Charles C. Bates. Mr. Bates has been employed to manage the station and he will have for his assistant, Ralph Lyions, well-known local young man.



60 years ago
February 15, 1952
Some of the things the City Planning Commission has been doing and some of the work it hopes to do in the future were outlined by Chairman Dale Johnson at a meeting of the Manteca Safety Council yesterday at the Little Club banquet room. Johnson pointed out that surveys have been made in an effort to establish another route through this city to relieve the congestion at the main intersection, but as yet nothing has been found. Those that have been considered, he said, would create a problem at some other point about as bad as the one already existing at Highways 99 and 120.



50 years ago
February 15, 1962
Ken Hafer was formally installed as president of the Manteca District Chamber of Commerce last night at the group’s annual installation dinner. Hafer replaced William Johnson as president of the group and Johnson served as toastmaster and installing officer at the dinner. Hafer then presented the group’s past president certificate to Johnson.

Visions of wealth floated around for a time Tuesday night at the Manteca Elementary Board of Trustees meeting as the group discusssed oil and gas leases. M. H. Goforth, vice-president of the Great Basins Oil Company, was present and said his company planned to drill in the city of Manteca, but only if leases could be obtained on all school property.



40 years ago
February 17, 1972
Manteca City Planning Director Karl Ebel is hospitalized in satisfactory condition after collapsing in his office late Monday afternoon. Ebel, 45, sustained a deep cut on his forehead after he fell on a piece of office furniture. City Hall sources said Tuesday morning that Ebel apparently fainted, but that they knew no cause for his fainting. Ebel began his duties as planning director four months ago.

Manteca Unified School District trustees approved a proposed 3 percent salary increase for both certificated (teacher) and classified (non-teacher) employees to be effective March 1, 1972. This is in addition to the 1.5 percent increase in health benefits already received the first of the school year. In presenting the proposal, Supt. Richard Cherry stated that the classified salaries would be worked out between their salary committee and Business Manager Harold Hughes as to the exact amount “because of their extremely complicated salary schedule.”



10 years ago
February 19, 2002
McMansions are speeding up the loss of farm land in the community. Manteca builders will be starting 81 new homes this month.